*Lambert Airport Receives $30 Million Federal Grant: St. Louis Lambert...
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News from throughout St. Louis County
*Lambert Airport Receives $30 Million Federal Grant: St. Louis Lambert International Airport has been awarded a $30 million federal grant from the Federal Aviation Administration to support construction of a new Central Utility Plant, a key infrastructure component of the airport’s planned Consolidated Terminal Program.
Airport officials say the funding will help modernize the airport’s power systems and advance plans for a future single-terminal facility. It is a major investment in the region’s transportation infrastructure and economic growth. The project remains in the design phase, with airport leaders continuing to pursue additional funding opportunities to support the multi-billion-dollar terminal modernization effort.
**SSD Freezes Salaries. The St. Louis County Special School District Board of Education voted last week to freeze salaries for employees, including teachers, as officials look to close a projected budget deficit for the 2026-27 school year. SSD is the largest specialized education provider in the state, serving 22,000 students in 22 school partner districts with special education services and technical education. A successful SSD is widely considered to be one of the most important reasons young families from other places choose to live in St. Louis County.
Share Your Thoughts: The St. Louis County Department of Planning would like to hear from the residents on the regulations of data centers in unincorporated St. Louis County. Currently, the Planning team is doing research so that they can make suggestions/recommendations to the Planning Commission on these regulations. Currently, there are no proposed data center developments under review in unincorporated St. Louis County, but the office wants to be proactive. To submit comments, please send them to datacentercomments@stlouiscountymo.gov.
Federal Compensation for Radioactive Exposure: Almost 17,000 current and former residents, many from communities in north St. Louis County, have already applied for Federal compensation awards for illnesses related to exposure to low-level radioactive waste from the Manhattan Project manufacturing process. Find out more information from the county’s RECA information page.
**Venable Park Reopens Following Major Renovation: Community members gathered in Creve Coeur to celebrate the grand reopening of Dr. H. Phillip Venable Memorial Park following a $2.6 million renovation project. The improvements include a new pavilion, upgraded playground, ADA-accessible pathways, enhanced landscaping, expanded parking, and a pedestrian bridge connecting nearby neighborhoods. A new memorial plaza and artwork honoring the park’s namesake, Dr. H. Phillip Venable, were also unveiled during the celebration.
**Northwoods Receives Funding for New Community Center: The City of Northwoods has secured $850,000 in federal funding to support the construction of a new community health and education center. The funding will be used to demolish the city’s currently closed community center and begin development of a modern facility focused on serving local residents. Plans for the new center include expanded services for seniors, health and wellness programs, youth activities, tutoring, and other community resources. Local leaders hailed the investment as an important step toward creating new opportunities and strengthening quality of life for Northwoods residents and surrounding communities. Additional funding will still be needed to complete the approximately $1.5 million project.
**Council Overrides Veto on Animal Shelter Bill: The St. Louis County Council voted 6-1 to override County Executive Dr. Sam Page’s veto of Bill 82, which requires the Department of Public Health to obtain Council approval before holding fee-waived pet adoption events. Dr. Page and Public Health Director Dr. Kanika Cunningham opposed the legislation, stating that the county animal shelter frequently faces overcrowding and must be able to act quickly to increase adoptions. The bill creates unnecessary barriers to finding homes for animals and could increase shelter crowding, costs, and euthanasia rates. Shelter professionals—not politicians—should have the flexibility to respond to emergency conditions and make decisions in the best interest of animal welfare.
